Address marginalisation of Imo, Uzodinma tells NDDC

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, has asked the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to address the issue of marginalisation against the state.

Uzodinma spoke when he received Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, acting managing director of the NDDC.

According to a statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, chief press secretary to the governor, Uzodinma urged the commission to revisit why NDDC was established.

The governor noted that the past NDDC leadership used a maintenance approach to solve problems affecting the member-states, as opposed to project conception and implementation.

He said Imo, as a critical stakeholder in the oil and gas sector, had not been treated fairly.

According to him, when the commission was expected to come to the aid of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was nowhere to be seen even though it featured prominently in the other NDDC states.

Uzodinma asked the commission to intervene immediately in the Elele-Owerri corridor of the old Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, as well as the Mgbidi-Awomama axis of Owerri-Onitsha Road, ahead of the Yuletide.

He also solicited the intervention of the NDDC in flood-ravaged communities of Imo, such as Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, to further cushion the effects of the flood on the people.

“What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Go back to the original intention of setting up the commission so that the impact will be felt by our people,” Uzodinma said.

“We have observed marginalisation. None of the oil-producing states should be marginalised. We must get justice, we must get equity, we must get even distribution of amenities. You should address marginalisation in the NDDC.

“Each time they say we are a member, why is intervention not coming to Imo but going to other states? Repair Elele to Owerri Road and repair the bad sections from Mgbidi to Awommama under your emergency programme.”

The governor expressed delight at the appointment of Audu-Ohwavboua as acting managing director of NNDC, adding that he is “able, capable, and possessing a good knowledge of the terrain”.

He urged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in solving the problems of the NDDC.

On his part, Audu-Ohwavboua agreed with the governor that there were problems yet unsolved in the commission.

He, however, assured the governor that his leadership will address the problems.

“We are technocrats. We don’t make promises we are not ready to honour. Rest assured that the marginalisation has ended.” he said.